Over the past few weeks I have had my
first two service sessions at Vanguard Collegiate Middle School for Soccer
Without Borders. It has been an absolute incredible experience so far. Although
I am there to tutor the students and help them with their homework, the message
of the program is much deeper than that. I am there to be a role model, and
provide the children with a symbol of how important education is. I have
started to develop some real connections with the students, and look forward to
going to service every week. I have been exposed to situations I had previously
never encountered, and am learning much about myself in the process.
In the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and the poems “Theology” by Paul
Lawrence Dunbar and “Tableau” by Countee Cullen, society often rejects people
without truly getting to know them. This can be related to service because many
of the students may feel they do not fit into American society because the
culture they come from may be very different. I hope to make the children more comfortable
in their new home.
The plot of Frankenstein revolves around the life of brilliant scientist Victor
Frankenstein. While away studying at university, Victor uses his skills to
create life, as he brings to life a ginormous 8- foot creature. Victor has a
desire to be more powerful than nature. However, Victor is horrified by the appearance
of this creature, and abandons him to live and learn on his own. The creature
continues to be a victim of rejection from humans based upon his outer appearance.
This results in great anger inside the creature, which leads to him murdering
Victor’s younger brother. However, the creature was originally a compassionate
being, as he sought to help a poverty-stricken family he observed. His negative
actions are a result of societal standards. All of society rejected the creature,
including his creator Victor, because of his ugly appearance. They did not get
to know the creature, who is a living being, just like them, and has emotions. This
rejection the creature endured resulted in the death of Victor’s youngest
brother. The blame can be placed on Victor and society for rejecting the creature
because of his appearance.
The speaker of the poem “Tableau”
discusses how a black boy and a white boy are walking together with their arms
interlocked. White parents look on and are angered and annoyed at the sight, “And
here the fair folk talk/ Indignant that these two should dare/ In unison to
walk.” However, the two boys are unaware of these adults, as they are consumed
by their friendship. The boys are not concerned with blind hatred based upon
race. The white adults do not approve of the white and black boy walking
together because they believe the races should be separated. This hatred is
extremely unjustified because we are all humans and deserve equal treatment,
and the color of our skin should have no effect on that.
The poem “Theology” is more concerned
with the nature of belief. The speaker explains how he believes in both heaven
and hell, but expresses a desire to go to heaven upon his death. He states his
neighbors are to go to hell, implying they are bad people. Although there may
be some comedic relief behind this statement, it seems quite extreme as hell is
regarded as a place for those who have sinned. The human mind is a very
powerful tool and many use it in the wrong manner. The statement shows how
society is quick to judge and make assumptions about people without having the
necessary information.
The literary works Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, “Tableau”
by Countee Cullen and “Theology” by Paul Lawrence Dunbar show how humans are
quick to judge and make assumptions about others. These assumptions are often
negative, and have a large impact on the victim as they feel they are rejected
from society. This can be related to service because many of the students came
from foreign nation and may feel unwelcome in American society.
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